Air flow controllers or dampers



July 4, 1967 w. H. BARKER ETAL 3,329,163

AIR FLOW CONTROLLERS 0R DAMPERS Filed April 20, 1964 4 Sheets sh t l y 1957 w. H. BARKER ETAL 3,32

AIR FLOW CONTROLLERS 0R DAMPERS Filed April 20, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J i y-.4.

July 4, 1967 w. H. BARKER ETAL 3,329,163

AIR FLOW CONTROLLERS OR DAMPERS Filed April 20, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Gun-minim July 4, 1967 w. H. BARKER ETAL 3, 2

AIR FLOW CONTROLLERS OR DAMPERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 20, 1964 United States Patent 3,329,163 AIR FLOW CONTROLLERS 0R DAMPERS William Harry Barker, Silverwood, Camden Park Road, Chislehurst, Kent, England, and Derek Richard Barker, St. Christopher, Bickley Park Road, Bromley, Kent, England Filed Apr. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 360,856 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Mar. 24, 1964, 12,383/64 4 Claims. (Cl. 137-4501) This invention relates to an air flow damper or controller, particularly for air supply and exhausting systems.

Broadly, according to this invention, there is provided an air damper or controller which comprises one or more louvres which is, or each of which is, of tubular form and so constructed that the or each louvre can be deformed in cross section in such a manner as to vary the spacing between adjacent louvres, or in the case of a single louvre, the spacing between each side of said louvre and a casing in which it is fitted.

Thus, according to one form of the present invention, there is provided an air damper or controller which comprises spaced apart parallel louvres which are each of tubular form, and so constructed that each can be deformed in cross section in such a manner as to vary the spacing between adjacent louvres.

According to another form of this invention there is provided an air damper which comprises a single louvre of tubular form, or two or more louvres of tubular form arranged in line formation, and wherein the or each louvre is so constructed that it can be deformed in cross section in such a manner as to vary the spacing between each side of the or each louvre and opposite sides of a casing in which the louvre or line of louvres is arranged, and further wherein an individual operating mechanism is provided at one or both ends of the or each louvre whereby the or each louvre may be adjusted by different amounts at one end only so that the width of an air gap between one side of a louvre and a casing in which it is fitted, tapers longitudinally.

According to one construction of the present invention, each louvre comprises a tube of deformable springy material, e.g., springy metal or a suitable plastics material. In this case the louvres can be deformed against the influence of their inherent resiliency to vary the spacing between them.

In certain instances each tubular louvre may be made as a one-piece seamless tube but in other cases, e.g., particularly when the louvres are large, they may be prefabricated from two or more strips of material which are hinged or otherwise suitably connected together at their edges to form a tube.

According to one specific form of the invention there is provided an air flow damper which comprises a plurality of spaced apart parallel louvres each of which consists of a deformable tube of suitable cross section and which are contained in the same or substantially the same plane or curvature, and actuating or pressure applying means extending transversely to and in contact with said tubes and which is adapted to act on the tubes in such a manner that the tubes are deformed in cross section by different amounts from one end (or side) of the damper to the other so that the size of the gaps between the tubes increases or decreases by progressively co-related different amounts.

According to an alternative construction, there is provided an air damper or controller which comprises spaced apart parallel louvres which are of tubular form and so constructed that each can be deformed, e.g., by a screw adjustment, independently of the others, to vary the spacing between adjacent louvres.

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To enable the invention to be clearly understood, various embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a cross section through a damper illustrating one form of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a further embodiment.

FIGURES 4 to 7 are purely diagrammatic views showing various combinations of settings which are possible to suit different air flow conditions in air supply ducts.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view illustrating how each louvre of a damper may be provided with its own individual setting means.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary view of a modification using a single louvre and showing the latter open.

FIGURE 10 is a similar view showing the louvre contracted, and

FIGURE 11 is a cross section.

Referring firstly to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, each of the tubular louvres 1 is rhomboidal or diamond shape in cross section and a plurality of these tubular louvres are supported in spaced apart parallel relation in the same common plane or curvature and with their axes spaced apart, preferably, equally. These tubular louvres 1 are arranged on point with the points at one side of the set of louvres engaged in notches 2v in a common supporting plate or base member 3.

Provided at the other side of the set of louvres is an actuating or pressure-applying member 4 which extends transversely to the set of louvres 1 and centrally of said louvres and is in contact with the points of the louvres i at this side and this pressure-applying member 4, is so mounted that it can hinge about one or either of its ends so that by hinging the member about a selected end, pressure is brought to bear on the points In of the tubular louvres 1 and the latter are deformed by different amounts so as to effect what can be said to be a flattening action on the louvres so that the elfective width of the louvres varies from one end or side of the damper to the other to bring about a corresponding variation in the size of the gaps 5 between adjacent louvres 1. It will be appreciated that when the pressure-applying member 4 is pivoted about one of its ends that the arc of swinging movement of the member adjacent its pivoted end will be much less than the arc of swinging movement at its other end and that this latter end of the member 4- will therefore deform a louvre 1 on which it. acts a greater amount than that by which a louvre is deformed at or adjacent the pivoted end of the member and that due to the different amounts by which the tubular louvres are deformed, the gaps 5 between the louvres must necessarily vary progressively from one side of the damper to the other. The gaps 5 between the louvres will of course occur between the points 1b of the louvres 1 which are directed transversely of the points in of the louvres against which the pressure-applying member 4 bears and the points which are engaged in the notches 2 in the support plate or base 3. Thus, as shown, according to one setting, the rhomboidal tubular louvre against which the pressure member 4 bears at the pivoted end of the latter, will resemble an elongated diamond shape in cross section, while at the other side of the damper where a louvre is engaged by the other end of the pressure member 4 this louvre may be opened out or flattened into a substantially square outline in cross section.

The pressure-applying member 4 may be adjustable at one or each end by an adjusting screw 6 against the influence of a spring 7 which acts to assist in returning the pressure member 4 in the opposite direction when the screw 6 is slackened.

The pressure-applying member 4 may comprise a pair of bars located one at each side (or end) of the casing 8 of the damper so as to bridge and act on or adjacent to the ends of the louvres 1 to ensure that each louvre is deformed equally so that its cross section is uniform along the entire length of the louvre.

As will hereinafter be explained with reference to FIG- URES 4 to 7, each of the louvres may be set unequally to obtain a longitudinal differential setting, i.e., so that the gaps between adjacent louvres taper longitudinally.

In the case of large size dampers a third pressure bar may be provided so as to bridge and act on the louvres midway of their lengths. With small dampers it is sufficient to provide a single pressure bar which is positioned so as to bridge and act on the louvres midway of their lengths.

Alternatively, as decribed with reference to FIGURES 4 to 7, the louvres of small dampers may be set unequally to obtain a longitudinal differential setting, so that the gaps between adjacent louvres taper longitudinally.

Each pressure bar 4 is supported at its ends on tubes 9 and 1t and the pressure bars 4 are free to swivel on the tube 9 and are formed with slots 11 in which the other tube 10 is engaged to permit these ends of the bars to move slightly relatively to the tube 10 due to the arcuate path through which these ends swing when the bars and therefore the louvres are initially set. These tubes 9 and 10 are formed with tapped holes through which the adjusting screws 6 are threaded, the latter being held against axial displacement so that when they are turned, the tubes are caused to rise and fall to move the pressure bar or bars and so set the louvres.

When the pressure-applying member 4 is adjusted away from the points 1a of the louvres (to increase the gaps between the louvres), the louvres 1 return towards their original cross-sectional shape due to the inherent resiliency of the material from which they are made.

The louvres and the pressure member are mounted in any suitable form of frame 8.

In the foregoing embodiment the tubular louvres may be one-piece louvres, that is they may be seamless, or alternatively, they may be formed from strip material with the strips hinged or otherwise suitably connected at their edges. In the case of a louvre of rhomboidal or diamond cross section the diamond may be formed from two strips of material of V cross section which are hinged together at their edges remote to their apices. Alternatively, the diamond may be built'up from four flat strips hinged together along the longitudinal edges to form a diamond in cross section. In this latter case the strips need not be made of springy or resilient material as the hinging of the sections permits the louvres to be deformed in cross section but provision must be made, such as for example, equivalent, which controls the degree to which the diamond formation is flattened and subsequently opened out again.

Instead of making the louvres 1 of rhomboidal crosssection, they may be made of a flattened oval cross section as shown in FIGURE 2 and of plastic or other resilient material. As shown, the edges of the louvres may be thickened to receive rods 12 which engage at their ends in holes 13 in the pressure-applying bars 4 which act on the ends of the louvres 1, the lower rods 12 engaging at their ends in supporting plates or base members 3. If desired, the louvres shown in FIGURE 1 may also be supported or mounted on rods 12.

Alternatively, as shown in FIGURE 3, a single pressure bar 4 may be provided which bridges and acts upon the louvres 1 centrally of their lengths.

Air dampers or controllers constructed in accordance with this invention can be made to control and evenscrew-adjusting means or theout the flow of air in air ducts in which due to the curvature of the ducts or for some other reason, air bunches in the bends to varying degrees.

In the embodiments already described with reference to the drawings, each of the gaps 5 is of constant width between adjacent louvres but due to irregular air conditions in a duct it may be found desirable to dampen the air flow to a greater degree, at one side or end of the damper, that is, at zones in the duct in which the air bunches, thereby causing the air to take a path of least resistance so that a portion of the bunched air is deflected to the other side or end of the damper thereby evening out the air flow. FIGURES 4 to 7 illustrate quite diagrammatically how the louvres 1 can be preset so that the gaps taper towards one side or end of the damper so as to allow more air through at one side than at the other.

In FIGURE 4 the air flow is in the direction of the arrow A and the louvres are set by depressing only the ends 14 of the louvres so that the mouths of the gaps define an elongated V. With this setting it is assumed that air, passing through a duct in which the damper is fitted, bunches or is more concentrated in a zone at said ends 14 so that by closing the louvres at these ends the air is deflected and will take a path of least resistance and will spread itself evenly as it passes through the louvres.

FIGURE 5 illustrates a setting in which the bunching of the air travelling in the direction of the arrow B is such that it is necessary to adjust the louvres at an end 15 of the damper over which the air travels last so that more air is deflected and allowed through the gaps 5 as the air commences to flow over the damper.

FIGURE 6 illustrates air bunching conditions in which it may be necessary to adjust side or end louvres 16 and 17 so that the gap 5 between the louvres 16 tapers towards one side or end of the damper with the gap 5 between the louvres 17 tapering in the opposite direction and with a gap 5 of even width between intermediate louvres 18.

A still further possible setting is illustrated by FIG- URE 7 in which the louvres are set so that the gaps 5 all taper in the same direction but by progressively different amounts.

The foregoing embodiments are to be considered representative of an infinite number of diiferent settings which are possible and which are applicable to phenomena existing in various air control systems. For instance, due to bends in air ducts the air may first bunch against one side or in a corner of a duct and then bunch against the other side or a corner in a duct which would call for dampers having different settings and also the curvature, or one bend may be greater or lesser than that of another, against calling for different settings.

It may even be necessary, in order to provide a required air flow to set all the louvres of a damper separately and in this case each louvre may be provided with its own individual setting or pressure applying member or even a number of individual setting members provided along the length of the louvre.

To enable each louvre to be set independently of the others each louvre may be provided with setting means as shown in FIGURE 8 and which comprises a screw 19 threaded through a stationary bar 19a supported by the damper frame 8, so as to extend transversely above the louvres 1, the screw 19 being fitted at its lower end with a swivel pressure member 20 which straddles the edge of the louvre. By adjusting the screw 19 axially towards -or away from the louvre 1 the latter is further deformed, or alternatively allowed to return, due to its inherent resiliency to its normal shape, thereby varying the size of the air gap 5 between adjacent louvres. These independent setting means may be provided at each end of a louvre so as to provide an infinitely variable combination of settings of all the louvres of a damper thereby enabling all possible air flow conditions to be successfully contended with.

Referring lastly to FIGURES 9, and 11, these figures illustrate an arrangement comprising a single louvre of tubular form, or two or more louvres of tubular form arranged in line formation, and wherein the or each louvre is so constructed that it can be deformed in cross section in such a manner as to vary the spacing between each side of the or each louvre and opposite sides of a casing in which the louvre or line of louvres is arranged, and further wherein an individual operating mechanism is provided at one or both ends of the or each louvre whereby the or each louvre may be adjusted by different amounts at one end only so that the width of an air gap between one side of a louvre and a casing in which it is fitted, tapers longitudinally.

By deforming the tubular louvre at one end only, the end is made wider than its opposite and undeformed end so that the louvre tapers in width from its flattened or wider end to its other end and thus there is produced between each side of the louvre and the wall of a casing in which the single louvre is fitted, an air gap which tapers progressively from one of its ends to the other, this tapering of the air gap at each side of the louvre providing for a better controlled and more even flow of the air.

According to one form of the invention, a pair of tubular louvres of rhomboidal or diamond shape or flattened oval shape in cross section are supported in line formation in each of two slot-like air outlets at opposite sides of a ceiling light fitting where air is introduced at the centre of the total length of each of the two slots and a differential control is required from the centre of the two slots toward the ends.

As shown in these figures, use is made of a tubular louvre 1 of rhomboidal or diamond cross section mounted on upper and lower hinge rods 21 and 22, the upper rod 21 being fixed at 21a to an operating plate 23 and the lower hinge rod 22 passing through a slot 24 in the plate 23 and being secured at 25 to a saddle plate 26. This saddle plate 26 is pivoted at 27 to a frame member 28.

Deflection of the louvre assembly about its pivot 27 in the direction of the arrow A is possible and enables the angle of the rhomboidal louvre to be varied within the air outlet opening. A similar saddle plate is provided at the other end of the louvre.

The rhomboidal louvre may be deformed at one of its ends to cause the louvre to taper longitudinally by adjusting a setting screw 29 threaded through inturned ears or lugs 23a and 26a in the operating plate 23 and the saddle plate 26 respectively.

FIGURE 10 illustrates how the setting screw 29 has been adjusted to cause the louvre 1 to be flattened an amount corresponding to the distance B in FIGURE 10 which corresponds to the setting movement of the screw 29.

When this adjustment is effected at one end only of the louvre, it will be appreciated that the louvre is flattened more at this end than at its other end thereby resulting in the louvre tapering longitudinally and providing between each side of itself and an adjacent wall of the damper casing, an air gap which tapers longitudinally in accordance with the taper of the louvre i.e. the width of the air gap is narrowest between the wide end of the louvre and said wall, and widest between the narrow end of the louvre and said wall.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated by FIG- URES 9, 10 and 11 is concerned with the adjustment of a single tubular louvre to cause it to taper longitudinally to provide complementary longitudinally tapering air gaps between the two sides of the louvre and opposite walls of an air outlet in which the louvre is fitted, the tapering of said gaps permitting a better control and directioning of the air and its discharge in a more even manner i.e. bunching of the air adjacent one end of the outlet is avoided.

Although in the illustrated embodiment the lower hinge rod 22 remains fixed in the saddle plate 26 and the upper hinge rod 21 is movable for adjustment, it may be found necessary in some applications to reverse the arrangement so that the upper hinge rod 21 is fixed and the lower hinge rod 22 adjustable.

In those cases when each louvre is provided with an individual operating mechanism at each end of the louvre, both mechanisms may be operated equally to set the louvre equally along its length.

As alternatives to the one air supply port at the centre of the total length, two supply ports, one at each end or both adjacent the centre, may be provided.

The damper or controller described herein can be used for damping or controlling the flow of gases other than air and the term air is to be read as one of the included gases.

We claim:

1. A gas flow control damper comprising in combination a casing, a plurality of parallel deformable hollow louvres supported in said casing, and pressure applying and relieving means for deforming said louvres in cross section to vary the width of the gas fiow spaces between said louvres in such a manner that the width of said spaces tapers longitudinally between pairs of adjacent louvres.

2. A gas flow control damper as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said tubular louvres is rhomboidal in cross section and the pressure applying and relieving means comprises a bar extending transversely of and in contact with said louvres, said bar being mounted to hinge about each of its ends, and means of each end of said bar operable for swinging the bar about. a desired end thereof to deform the louvres by progressively different amount and to produce longitudinally tapering gas fiow passages between the louvres.

3. A gas flow control damper as claimed in claim 1 wherein each louvre is independently deformed in cross section by means comprising a threaded member passed through a relatively stationary part and adapted at one end to co-act with said deformable member.

4. A gas fiow control damper comprising a casing, a single hollow deformable louvre supported in said casing to provide a gas flow space between said louvre and a side of said casing, and operating mechanism at one end of said louvre for deforming said louvre in cross section thereby to vary the size of the gas fiow passage between itself and said side of the casing so that said gap tapers longitudinally.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,672,088 3/1954 Orr 137601 X 2,884,005 4/1959 Honerkamp et al. 137-601 2,891,576 6/1959 Kennedy 137-601 X 3,011,518 12/1961 Day et al 137-601 FOREIGN PATENTS 918,969 10/1954 Germany.

ALAN COHAN, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM F. ODEA, Examiner. D. H. LAMBERT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A GAS FLOW CONTROL DAMPER COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A CASING, A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL DEFORMABLE HOLLOW LOUVRES SUPPORTED IN SAID CASING, AND PRESSURE APPLYING AND RELIEVING MEANS FOR DEFORMING SAID LOUVERS IN CROSS SECTION TO VARY THE WIDTH OF THE GAS FLOW SPACES BETWEEN SAID LOUVRES IN SUCH A MANNER THAT THE WIDTH OF SAID SPACES TAPERS LONGITUDINALLY BETWEEN PAIRS OF ADJACENT LOUVRES. 